Until now, we haven't joined the conversation on Facebook and Twitter about Musikfest not having back the masked carillon player Cast in Bronze because we honestly don't think it's news.

Musikfest switches acts in and out of its lineup all the time. When there was real news about its lineup — when it left polka leader Jolly Joe Timmer out of the lineup in 2013 — it barely got a notice, even though Timmer had performed at the festival for 29 years, was the festival's traditional opening act and was a connection to its beginnings as a German-themed music festival. (Timmer returned in 2014.)

But we thought we might as well throw in our 2 cents.

Cast in Bronze performer Frank DellaPenna took to his Facebook page Sunday to announce that, after 16 years at Musikfest, he wasn't asked to return. "At first I thought 'age discrimination'," he said. "I don't think I've changed that much!" (DellaPenna is 64.)

Musikfest responded on its Facebook page that "one of our primary goals is to focus on presenting a variety of new and emerging artists alongside festival favorites, something that really helps to keep the festival 'fresh' and enhances the experience for our guests."

Cast in Bronze, the masked carillon player who traditionally performs at Musikfest, won't be back at the 2015 festival after organizers decided they wanted some newer, fresher acts to perform. The artist Frank DellaPenna, 64, of Chester County, had performed at the festival for 16 years.

(THE MORNING CALL)

"It's been exciting to see Cast in Bronze grow with Musikfest over the past 16 years, but this year we decided the time was right to give some other artists in residence a chance to perform at the festival."

That sounds about right.

Cast in Bronze, playing an instrument of two-dozen cast bronze bells weighing tons, is, at its core, a novelty act — interesting because it's so different, not because it's intrinsically great music. In fact, the performance consists of the masked, clothed-in-black performer hitting bells to largely recorded music.

As creepy — or even initially as cool — as it may be, it wears thin pretty quickly. There isn't much variation. It isn't like Jolly Joe — you can't dance to it; it's the same sit-there-and-listen experience each time. To the same music; by the same guy.

To have it back year after year is sort of like those Russian nesting dolls. Each time an act like Cast in Bronze returns doing the same thing, it's like opening a smaller doll and there's less to it.

That's not what Musikfest should be. Musikfest should be about variety and new experiences.

And, of course, the best music. From the headliners down, Musikfest has an obligation to choose the best performers, not have the same ones back simply because they've been there for a long time.

Look at Cast in Bronze's schedule on his website, http://www.castinbronze.com. Nearly all its appearances are Renaissance or Medieval festivals, not music festivals.

When Cast in Bronze appeared on "America's Got Talent" in 2012, judge Howard Stern told him, "I would never go to see a show of this."

Musikfest is a music festival that should be interested mostly in quality music, not novelty acts.

Truth is, Musikfest could pare away more repeat acts to open opportunities for new music.

Musikfest also said on its Facebook page that it has "invited Frank to be part of another festival or event at SteelStacks in the coming months. We know many people would look forward to seeing his show, especially if performed at the base of the blast furnaces."

That, too, sounds about right. Maybe have Cast in Bronze in a Levitt Pavilion show. Or a holiday performance.